Treatment of vegetable fibrous material and resulting product



' a war Patented" Oct, 15, 1929 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE ENT CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK TREATMENT OF VEGETABLE EIBROUS MATERIAL AND RESULTING PRODUCT No Drawing. Application-filed January 28, 1928, Serial No'. 250,346, and in Germany February 4, 1927.

This invention relates to the treatment of vegetable fibrous material and resulting prodnot, and more particularly to the production of wool-likeefi'ects on vegetable fibrous material. The invention is applicable to the treatment of vegetable fibrous material such for example as cotton fibres, whether in loose form or in yarns or fabrics. 7

It is known from various prior patents such as some of my own prior patents, that vegetable fabrics experience a contraction in consequence of treatment with reagents that have a swelling action on the vegetable fibres if the reaction is allowed to take place without 5 hindrance and without a counteracting tension. In consequence of the contraction of the fibres a densification of the fabric takes place when the fabric is being treated and the latter is given a certain wool-like character.

. The object of the present invention is to ohand inexpensive manner. It is now found that by a new use of alkali lyes as swelling means a further considerable enhancement of the wool effect can be proeffect the mercerization luster, i. e. silk luster,

I 35 used quite cold, for example below 0 C. for

producing transparent and linen effect-s.

The surprising fact has now been shown that, while heated alkali lyes of usual concentration for mercerization, are not suited to such heated alkali lyes if allowed to act upon the grey vegetable fibrous material while still in loose condition and containing the natural inorustations, a considerably increased wool effect is secured.

60 treated, while they still have their natural This invention contemplates a process for the production of wool effects on vegetable fibres by the use of hot caustic alkali as the swelling agent applied to the fibresto be tain an enhanced wool-like efiect in a simple incrustations of coatings adhering thereto and while the fibres are allowed to lie tensionless so as to obtain full shrinkage due to the goods in their various forms such for example as yarns or fabrics. I

If for instance on a grey wetted cotton fabrio one allows soda lye of 30 B. toact during 5 minutes at 40 0., thenit undergoes very strong shrinkage and after washing out and drying shows a strongly marked wool-like character.

According to the construction of the treated textile material, one can make variations in the time limits for impregnation as well as in the concentration of the alkali lye from 15 B. to B. and the temperature can vary from 30 0. up to the boiling point. Special good results areobtained by medium temperature of the lye.

It is desirable that the usual bleaching by alkali boiling be entirely excluded; that is to say, if the fibres are subjected to any alkali treatment before-the swelling agent acts, such alkali treatment shall be simply a gentle bleaching, preferably a cold bleaching, as distinguished from the customary alkali boiling; and on the other hand, if there is to be no pre liminary alkali treatment before the swelling reagent is applied, but there is to be an alkali treatment or bleaching after the swelling agent acts, then again such subsequent alkali treatment shall be merely a gentle bleaching, preferably a cold bleaching, as distinguished from a bleaching by alkali boiling. It is desirable that a merely careful cleansing of the vegetable fibres be performed before or after the swelling treatments, with the exclusion of alkali boiling. Itis important to keep the material in a tensionless state, throughout the-process starting with the swelling agent, so as not to prevent or materially impair or reduce-the fully-shrunk eflect. Even in drying, the material should only bestretched enough to remove folds'or creases.

For preserving the benefit of the natural incrustations of the fibres, the method of proeedur'e according to this invention may be exactly the same as fully set forth .in my Copending application Serial October 30, 1926.

Also the usual .treatment for mercerizing with alkali lye of usual temperaturecan be No. 145,381, filed connected with the hot lye treatment as pre-' .treatment or subsequent treatment for the purpose of perfecting the reaction. In case of pre-treatment, the cold alkali lye contain ing the fibrous material can be heated and case of subsequent treatment the hot lye, containing the fibrous material, is cooled after the hot treatment. The combined process can also'be executed by carrying out both treatments separately.

These processes can be executed on all kinds of vegetable fibrous materials. While I have described my invention with particularity in accordance with onepreferred method of carrying out the same, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art,

- after understanding my invention, that various modifications and changes may be made therein, and I aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the invention.v

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Process for producing wool-like effects on vegetable fibrous material, which comprises taking for treatment vegetable fibrous material having thereon the natural incrustations of the fibres, subjecting such material while in a tensionless state to the action of caustic alkali of the usual concentrations for mercerization and ata temperature of at least about 30 (1., maintaining the fibrous material in tensionless state and under the influence of said caustic alkali until the fibres have been swollen and substantially fully shrunk, and then treating the material to eliminate further effect of said caustic.

2. Process for producing wool-like veffects on cotton fabric, which, comprises taking for treatment fabric the fibres of which have thereon their natural incrustations, subjecting such fabric while in a tensionless state to the action of caustic alkali of 15 B. to

and has become substantially fully shrunk and then treating the fabrlc to eliminate r further effect of said caustic.

4. Process for producing wool-like effects on fabric containing cotton fibres, which comprises taking fortreatment such. fabric in the grey or raw state, treating the raw fabric with caustic soda of about 15 Be. to 50 B. at a temperature of. about 30 C. to

100 C. for about 5 minutes until said cotton fibres have been swollen by said caustic and substantially fully shrunk and then washing and drying the fabric without such stretching as would substantially reduce the attained shrinkage.

5. Wool-like effect fabric made in accordance with the process of claim 2.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGES HEBERLEIN.

50 B. and at a temperature of at least about a while in tensionlessjstate with caustic alkali of the usual strength for mercerization and at a temperature of at least-about 30 C. for several minutes until the fabric has swollen 

